Spring-bending machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. N. RICE.

SPRING BENDING MACHINE. No. 399,160. Patented Mar. 5, 1889.

.Wf'forneys N. Perms. Pimloljlhogrzphvr. Washingien. 0.1:.

' 4 Sheets.-Sheet 2.

(N0 Moiiei.)

J. N. RICE.

SPRING BENDING MACHINE.

Patented M21125, 1889.

Wifines 5 es (No Model.) 4 SheetsSl1eet 3 J. N. RICE.

SPRING BENDING MAOHINE.

ed Mar. 5, 1889.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J.'N. RICE.

SPRING BENDING MACHINE.

No. 399,160. Patented Mar. 5, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @rrtcn.

JAMES N. RH E, OF ll'YSTOX, PENXSYlAZKNlA, ASSIGN'OR 'lt) d'lhLL-rll T. HAYDOCK, OF ST. LOI lQ, MISSOVRI.

SPRING=BEND|NG MACi-HNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 899,160, dated March 5, 1889. Application filed September 25, 1883. Serial No. 286,313. (No model.)

To u/f/ rel/03 n it may concern;

Be it known that l, JAMES N. RICE, of litiston, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in, Spring-Bending Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of bending-machincs which are employed for bend- 3 ing rods to form spiral springs, especially such springs as are used for supporting vehicle- 1 bodies.

The object of my invention is to construct a machine whereby springs of the desired l form can he quickly bent without requiring reheating of the blanks, thereby saving considerable time and expense in the manufacture of the springs.

My invention consists to this end of the improvements which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of four sheets, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved bcnding-machine, showing the parts in the position which they occupy during the process of winding aspring. Fig. '2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the inner port-ion of the mandrel stop-bar on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same in line as, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the machine. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are cross-sections in lines w .90, 1 y, u it, and .2 2', Fig. 1, respectively. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the die and rain mechanism on an enlarged scale. Fig. 10 is a fragmentziry sectional elevation of the winding-head, mandrehand the die mechanism on an enlarged scale. 11 shows a modified construction of the lower stationary die. Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the dies and connecting parts. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section in line as .r, Fig. 12.

manufacture of which my improved bendingmachine is more especially designed.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts Fig. ll is a bottom plan i view of a finished spring of the class for the i i (r is the bolster-arm of the spring; a, the l neck or hearing portion, which is arranged centrally opposite one end of the body portion A of the spring, and which is mounted in a bearing, o secured to the body of the ve hicle, and a represents the supporting-arm, formed at the opposite end of the spiralbody A, and which projects preferably in a direction opposite to that of the bolster-arm a.

B represents the bed. of the machine, upon which the frame B of the winding mechanism is supported, and B the bed which sup ports the frame 13 of the die and bending mechanism. in line longitudinally and are set apart to form a space, 15', between the adjacei'it ends of the same.

T) represents the horizontal driving-shaft of the winding mechanism, which is arranged llongitudiually in the lower portion of the frame B and journaled in hearings h 11 formed in said frame, and in a standard, b arranged at the outer end of the shaft Z).

G represents a cylindrical drum arranged longitudinally in the upper part of the frame B and journaled in standards 0 c, forming part of the frame B. This drum held C represents a longitudinally unovable windingcylinder arranged in the bore of the drum C- and projecting through both ends of the latter.

o represents a \vii'idinghcad formed on the outer end of the whiding-cylinder C opposite the die mechanism, and which provided with a longitu dinally-projectin g stud or roller, 0 The latter engages against one side of the rod or bar to be bent and winds the inner end of the same around a longitudinallymovable mandrel, C The face of the winding-cylinder head is preferably made conical to correspond with the pitch of the spiral to be formed. The stud or roller o is provided is prevented from becoming disengaged from the roller or stud. This mandrel is arranged in an opening or bore formed centrallyiu the i winding-cylinder C and projects through l both ends of the latter, an d is supported at its against longitudinal movement by shoulders with a concave face, whereby the spring-bar 9 outer end in a recess or depression, a", formed in the lower die, 0 of the die mechanism. The die 0 is held in place in upright ways 0 which are formed in a standard, 0*, of the frame B The mandrel C is held from turning and against backward longitudinal movement bya locking-arm, c which. is pivoted to the upper end of a standard, (I, of the frame B. The locking-arm c is provided at its inner end with a head having in its under side a rectangular depresion or socket which engages over the flatided end portion, (2, of the mandrel C whereby the latter is securely locked against turning, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. mandrel C- to be readily moved backward and withdrawn from the finished spring, so that the latter can be removed by simply raising thelocking-arm c to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l.

d represent-s a feather or rib arranged lengthwise in the winding-cylinder C, and engaging in a corresponding groove, (Z formed in the drum C, whereby the winding-cylinder is caused to rotate with the drum C.

(1 represents a gear rim or wheel secured to the inner end of the drum 0 and meshing with a gear-pinion, (Z mounted loosely on the driving-shaft I). The pinion d" is provided on one side with a clutch-face, 11", with which engages a clutch disk or head, (1. The latter is capable of movement on the shaft 1) toward and from the pinion d, and is caused to turn with the shaft 1) by a feather which engages in a groove in the clutch-head.

d represents a laterally-projecting handlever pivoted to one of the side pieces of the frame B and engaging in an annular groove formed in the clutch-head, whereby the latter is thrown into and out of engagement with the pinion (1*.

E represents a feed-screw arranged longitudinally above the driving-shaft b and journaled at one end in a bearing formed in the standard cl and at its opposite end in the standard 0' of the frame 13.

The feed-screw E engages in a screw-nu t, e, which is attached to a crosshead, F. The latter is guided on longitudinal waysf, formed along the upper edges of the side pieces of theframe B, as represented in Fig. 6. The

cross-head F is connected with the windingcylinder C by a yoke, f, which engages in an annular groove, f formed in the cylinder near its inner end, whereby the winding-cylinder is moved forwardly and 'backwardly. Theyoke f is attached to two standards, e e proj eeting upwardly from the cross-head F on opposite sides of the windingwydinder.

Wheel 9 to the wheel g by an idler, g, which This construction permits the latter is secured in a concentric-slot, :g, by an arbor, g as clearly shown in Fig. 5. This arrangement of gears is employed when it is desired to make right-hand springs; but when it is desired to make left-hand springs an additional-idler, 9 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5,) is interposed between the wheel g and the idler g g The arbor of the idler g is secured in a slot, g, formed in the standard ('7 opposite the gear-wheel g.

H H represent two driving-pulleys mounted loosely on the driving-shaft 1), side by side, and rotated in opposite directions by a crossed belt, 71, and an open belt, h, respectively. The pulley H turns in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, while the pulley H turns in the opposite direction. The pulleys H H are held against longitudinal movement on the shaft 1) by collars 71 which are provided with fingers h and pins h. wardly and engage in annular grooves formed in the hubs If h of the wheels H II. The hubs h 72 are provided on their adjacent sides with clutch-faces 7L7 7L8, respectively.

h represents a movable clutch-head which is arranged on the shaft 1) between the hubs 7L5 7i, and which adapted to engage with either of the clutch-faces 7LT 71. The clutchhead 7t is caused to revolve with the shaft 1) by a feather, which engages in a groove in the clutch-head in a wellknown manner; The space between the hubs 7L5 7L is suflicient to allow the clutch-head h to free itself from both hubs when it is desired to stop the machine. The shaltb is rotated in one direction when the clutch-head 71 is in engagement with the wheel H and in the opposite direction when in engagement with the wheel H;

I represents an upwardly-projeating shifting-arm secured to one end of a transverse rock-shaft, 'i, journaled in standards i, and which engages with its upper bifurcated end with the clutch 71.

2' represents a downwardly-projeeting arm secured to the oppositeend of the rock-shaft i, and connected by, a horizontal rod, i with the lower end of a hand-lever, I, which latter is pivoted to one side of the bed B of the winding mechanism.

J represents a vertically-1movable die arranged above the stationar 1 die 0' and which is guided in its vertical movements in the ways 0 of the standard a". The dies 0 andJ When this is done, the arlj org of the idler g is moved downwardly in the slot The latter project inare provided on their opposing faces with horizontal semicircular depressions j j, re-

spectively, between which the rod to be bent- LII The flange is provided on both sides of said opening with inclined deflecting-faces j" 7' which cause the bar which is being bent to be deflected outwardly over one of these inclined faces, according to the direction in which the winding-cylinder is turned, when the roller of the winding cylinder C engages against either one side or the other of the bar.

it represents an inclined nose formed centrally on the upper die, J, and which engages in the slotj of the lower die, 0 and confines the neck portion a of the bar in the slot j between itself and an inclined face, it, formed on the end of the mandrel C If desired, the inclined face It, instead of being formed on the mandrel C may be formed on the lower die, as shown in Fig. ll; but I prefer to form the incline on the mandrel and support the latter on the lower die, as shown in Fig. 10, in order to support the end of the mandrel and prevent the same from being bent or twisted.

The upper vcrtically-movable di'e, J, is actuated by the following mechanism:

L I." represent two horizontal driving-pulleys arranged one above the other, and having their hubs Z l journaled in bearings l 1, secured to an overhead hanger or frame, I. These hubs are provided with shoulders, which prevent vertical movement of the pulleys.

M represents a vertically-movable actuating-shaft, which is journaled loosely with its upper portion in the bores of the pulleys L L, and which engages with its lower screwthreaded portion, 1", in a threaded opening formed in a cross-piece, Z, of the standard a". The lower end of the shaft M is connected to the upper die, J, by a pin, which engages in an annular groove formed in the feed-shaft, or other suitable means.

'02 n represent clutch-faces formed on the adjacent sides of thehubsl Z of the pulleys L L, respectively, and n represents a clutch-head, which is mounted on the shaft M between the hubs I Z, and which is adapted to engage with either of the clutch-faces n n. The clutchhead 11 is provided with a feather, which engages in a longitudinal slot, a formed in the shaft M. The shaft M is caused to rotate in a direction so as to move the die J downwardly when the clutch-head n is engaged with the hub of the upper pulley, L, and to rotate in the opposite direction, so as to raise the die J, when the clutch-head n is in engagement with the lower pulley, L. The space between the adjacent faces of the hubs Z l is sutlicient to allow the clutch-head n to stand between the clutch-Faces n 72 when it is desired to stop the rotation oi? the shaft M.

0 represents a clutch-lover pivotd to the hanger Z", and whereby the clutch-head is moved in either direction. The clutch-head n is held in a normal position between the hubs Z 1. by a spring, 0', or by any other suit.- able means.

P represents an upwardly-projecting inclined former-plate secured to the rear side of the upper die, J, and against which the bolster-arms a of the spring are bent by an oscillatory ram, P. The latter is arranged in rear of the lower die, c and is pivoted in elongated openings in lugs 13, formed on the dieframe 13. The pivots of the rain P can be adjusted to rods of diiferent thicknesses by adjusting screws 13', as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

19 represents a transverse crank-shaft arranged below the ram P, and p represents the crank of this shaft, which is connected by a rod, 19 with the outer free end of the rain, and whereby the latter is swung upwardly, so as to bend the bolster-arm portion of the rod resting on the ram upwardly against the former-plate P.

Q represents a driving pulley mounted loosely on the crank-shaft p and having its hub provided with a clutch-face, with which engages a transversely-movable clutch-head, q. The latter is thrown into and out of engagement with the clutch-face of the wheel Q by a hand-lever, q.

"1' represents a concave recess or depression formed centrally in the upper portion of the s1 andard c, and in which the inner end of the rod to be bent is sup mrtel'l and centered in the machine.

'1" represents a hand-gage, which is placed against the outer end of the rain P, and against which the end of the bar to be bent is gaged, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 10.

7' represents a hand locking-lever, which is pivoted to one side of the rear portion of the die-stal'idard c", and which provided in one side with a notch or recess, 2'? The latter engages over the lower portion of the bolsterarm a of the bar after the latter has been bent upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1, whereby the rod held from turning in the dies while the inner portion is being" wound around the mandrel C The operation of my improved beinling-inachine is follows: The windbig-cylinder C is first moved backwardly in the drum in order to allow the spring-ban to be inserted. For this purpose the clutch (I? is disengaged from the pinion (1' and the clutch h" thrown into engagement with the clutch-face of the driving-pulley ll,whereby the winding-cylinder is moved bachwardly by the feed-screw E without being rotated, care being taken when the wiruling-cylinder. is moved backwardly that the,winding-rollerc is located on one side of the hmgitudinal center line, shown in Fig. 4' The upper die, J, is next raised by engaging the clutch n with the driving-pulley L, so as to leave sufiicient space to introduce the heated spring-bar in an inclined position between the dies J and 0 as shown in dotted lines at S in Fig. 10. The clutch n is then thrown into engagement with the upper pulley, L, so as to cause the shaft M to rotate in the proper direction to ITO move the die J downwardly. At the same time the clutch h is thrown into engagement with the pulley-H, so as to cause the feedserew E to move the winding cylinder toward the dies. This movement of the windingcylinder causes its head o". to engage against the lower side of the bar and bend the same upwardly, as shown at S in dotted lines in Fig. 10, while the downward movement of the upper die, J, bends the bar beneath the same, so as to form the bearing portion a. of the spring, as shown in dotted lines at s in Fig. 10. After the winding-cylinder has been moved sufficiently close to the dies to cause the roller 0 of the winding-head to engage against the bar when the winding-cylinder is rotated and the upper die has tightly clamped the bar, the clutch n is disengaged from the pulley L, so as to arrest the movement of the screwshaft M. The clutch h is now again thrown into engagement with the pulley H, so as to cause the feed-screw E to draw the windingcylinder away from the dies J At the same time that the clutch h is engaged the clutch d is also thrown into engagement with the pinion (P, so as to cause the winding-cylinder to rotate and wind the bar around the mandrel C while it is receding from the dies J c Before the operation of winding begins the end of the bar forming the bolster-armisbent in the following manner: The clutch q of the crank-shaft 192 is thrown into engagement with the pulley Q, whereby the ram P is oscillated on its pivots by the crank 19 and connectingrod 1). The upward movement of the ram bends that portion of the bar which rests on the ram upwardly against the form er-plate P, and thereby forms the bolster-arm CL of the spring. The ram P is allowed to deliver several blows against the spring-bar to insure perfect work before the clutch g is disengaged from the pulley Q. When the bolster-arm a has been formed, the clutch q is disengaged and the ram P is returned to its normal horizontal position by the weight of the ram P, connecting-rod p, and crank p The springbar is now locked in position by the lever r the notch of which engages over the upturned bolster-arm of the spring-bar and prevents the latter from changing its position during the operation of winding. The operation of winding the spring is now begun, and is continued until the required length of spring has been wound and the body-supporting arm a has been formed by allowing the unwound portion of the rod to stand in a direction opposite to that of the bolstenarm a. \Vhen this has been accomplished, the movements of the winding-cylinder are arrested by moving the clutch h out of engagement with the wheel H. The length of the spring and the proper time to stop the movement of the winding-cylinder are determined by a suitable gage or mark on the guides of the frame B. The finished spring is then removed by raising the locking-arm 0 withdrawing the mandrel C from the spring, and raising the upper die, J.

After the spring has been removed, the mandrel C is again moved forwardly and locked in place at one end in the lower die, and at the other end by the locking-arm 0 I claim as my invention- A 1. The combination, with the clamping-dies, whereby one end of the spring-baris held, of a winding-cylinder, a removable mandrel arranged within the winding-cylinder, a rotat ing drum surrounding the winding-cylinder and connected therewith by a groove and feather to rotate the same, and feed mechanism whereby the winding-cylinder is moved longitudinally in the drum, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the clamping-dies, whereby a portion of the spring-bar is held, of the winding mechanism whereby the springbar is coiled, and a ram whereby the end of the spring-bar is bent, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the clamping-dies, of the winding-cylinder, a mandrel arranged in the bore of the winding-cylinder, and a locking-arm whereby the mandrel is held against longitudinal movement, substantially as set forth.

at. The combination, with the clamping-dies, the winding-cylinder, and the mandrel provided with a fiat-sided end, of a looking-lever provided with a fiat-sided recess engaging with the fiat-sided end of the mandrel, whereby t-he mandrel is held against rotary movement, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the hollow drum provided with driving-gear whereby it is rotated, of a winding-cylinder arranged in said drum and connected therewith by a groove and feather, a cross-head provided with a screw-nut and connected with said windingcylinder, and a feed-screw engaging with said sorewnut, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the hollow drum provided with a gear-rim, of a winding-cylinder arranged in said drum and connected therewith by a groove and feather, a feedscrew connecting said winding cylinder, a driving shaft provided with mechanism whereby it can be rotated in either direction, gears connecting said driving-shaft with the feed screw, and a gear pinion and clutch whereby the drum can be rotated from said driving-shaft, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination,with the lower die provided in its face with a recess, of a mandrel having an inclined end seated in said recess and a winding-cylinder surrounding said mandrel, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the clamping-dies, of a winding-cylinder and a feed-screw whereby the cylinder is moved toward the clamp ing-dies, thereby bending the body of the bar preparatory to winding the same, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the winding mechhaving inclined deflecting-faces to form in '11. The combination, with the winding depression, and having on its front side a I L mechanism, the e1amping-dies and the ram slotted flange opening upwardly and projecting upwardly beyond the face. of the die, and i whereby the end of the spring-bar is bent, of 1 a looking-lover which is engaged with the eon neetion with the winding mechanism the 'j spring-bar and whereby the latter is held in initial bend of the spiral, snbstantially'as set i position during the operation of winding, subforth. stantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with the winding itness my hand this 15th day of Septemmechanism, of a lower stationary die, an upher, 1888. per movable die provided on its rear side with a for1ner-plate,a pivoted ram, and mechanism whereby an oscillating motion is imparted to the ram, substantially as set forth. 1

JAMES X. RICE. Vitnesses:

S. P. FENN, H. C. DEWEY. 

